Letter to the Editor: Loop Trolley

The "Streetcar Named No Desire To Nowhere," which will radically change our City Scape, must be put to a vote of the  University City electorate.

The last radical change to this same City Scape was under our 1962 Urban Renewal Bond Issue voted by the people, not once but twice, because all the T's were not crossed properly and all the I's were not dotted correctly the first time — and it passed both times. And what was the radical change that came to this very section of Delmar? — the street bed was narrowed and the sidewalks widened and today the restaurants, shops and pedestrians are still benefitting from that City Scape change.

It this Loop trolley materializes, this original City Scape change will be a lost investment since the restaurants, and shops will lose automobile traffic, and probably wither financially and close.

Can we truly afford to lose the ambiance and fun of the Loop to a poor plan?

Of greater and severe importance — can we the 35,000 people of University City financially afford the lawsuits which will come due to the Public Safety Factor which will develop as a result of the First Responders creeping behind a streetcar while attempting to answer a call to save a life or put out a house fire? Frankly, I would hate to be a resident of Parkview Subdivision under this trolley plan. My life and property would be in jeopardy.

This City Scape change must be put to a vote of the University City electorate. If the vote is FOR the trolley plan, then we must all pay for the public safety problems which will follow. If the vote is NAY, perhaps the transportation district will consider double-decker buses to attract visitors to the Loop and all will prosper. 

Elsie Beck Glickert City Council member, 1969-1980